Stitch-transfer needle for knitting machines



Sept. 27, 1960 R. E. ZERUNEITH STITCH-TRANSFEIR NEEDLE FOR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 23, 1950 INVENTOR. firm 021a? E. Zexaxez'zlf BY IQTTOENEY R. E. ZERUNEITH Sept. 27, 1960 STITCH-TRANSFER NEEDLE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed Aug. 23, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F 7 EZertmed/r ATTORNEY Sept. 27, 1960 R. E. ZERUNEITHA 2,953,914

STITCH-TRANSFER NEEDLE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed Aug. 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F INVENTOR.

firm NEY Patented Sept. 27, 1960 STITCH-TRANSFER NEEDLE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Rudolph E. Zeruneith, 19200 Linnet, Jenkintown, Pa.

Original application Aug. 23, 1950, Ser. No. 181,035,

now Patent No. 2,780,082, dated Feb. 5, 1957. Divided and this application Feb. 1, 1957, Ser. No. 637,696

7 Claims. (Cl. 66-123) The present invention relates to new and improved knitting-needles for automatic knitting machines, and particularly to knitting-needles used on automatic circular knitting-machines having a bank of dial-needles and a bank of cylinder needles operatively co-acting and arranged so that the yarn is transferable from one bank of needles to the other bank of needles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a knitting needle having a yarn-engaging and a yarnspreading flange adapted and arranged to permit easy and trouble-free transfer of the yarn from a needle in one bank of needles to a needle in the other bank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stitch-transfer knitting-needle having a yarn-spreading flange formed therein which does not weaken the needlestructure, and which spreads the yarn to provide a loop of suflicient size so as readily to be engaged by a yarnreceiving needle to permit easy and trouble-free transfer thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, on a knitting needle, a yarn-engaging and a yarn-spreading flange which permits the yarn to be twisted during the transfer operation to provide a new and novel method of knitting and a new and novel knitted fabric.

Further objects will be apparent by reference to the appended specification, claims and drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the knittingneedle of the present invention, viewed generally from the rear of the flange thereof.

Figure 2 represents one side elevational view, of the knitting-needle of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents another side elevational view, similar to Figure 2, but viewed from the other side thereof.

Figure 4 represents a front elevational view of the knitting-needle shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

Figure 5 represents an end-elevational view, taken generally along line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 represents a side elevational view of the knitting-needle of Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, shown with a cooperating stitch-receiving needle.

Figure 7 represents a front view of five successive positions which the knitting-needle of the present invention assumes during a stitch-transfer operation.

Figure 8 represents a side elevational view of'the stitchtransfer needle of the present invention shown in cooperation with a stitch-receiving needle during the new and novel stitch-transfer operation wherein the yarn is twisted as it is transferred. 4

Figure 9 represents a front elevational view taken generally along lines 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 represents a side elevational view of a stitchreeeiving needle after the transfer thereto of a twisted loop of yarn.

Figure 11 represents a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 1111 of Figure 9.

The knitting-needle 20 of the present invention includes a body-portion 21 having a hook 22 at one end thereof and having a flange 23 projecting laterally from one sidesurface 24 thereof, generally beneath the hook 22.

The flange 23 is fully interconnected with the bodyportion 2-1 and, as is shown particularly in Figures 4, 5 and 11, is bent, flattened or otherwise formed so as to extend generally transversely of the body portion 21. As is evident when viewed from the front (shown particularly in Figure 4), the flange 23 merges or blends with the body portion 21 at the upper end 25 and also at the lower end 26, and, in smooth, curved, flowing lines extends laterally to a point of maximum projection from the side surface 24 at the crest 27. Between the upper end 25 and the crest 27, and between the lower end 26 and the crest 27, the edges 28 and 29, respectively, of the flange 23 provide camming surfaces; said camming surfaces being smooth and gradual so as.not to impede the passage thereacross of a cooperating stitchreceiving needle.

The front surface 30 of the flange 23 is disposed generally transversely to the side surface 24 of the needle but blends smoothly into the side surface 31 between the ends 25 and 26. The front surface 30 is formed with a hump or raised portion 32 between the upper end 25 and the crest 27, with a transverse depression or groove 33 and a shoulder 34 disposed in the area of greatest lateral projection. The shoulder 34 extends transversely to a point 35 and then gradually recedes to the end 26 of the flange 23 where it blends smoothly into the front edge of the body portion 21. p v

The rear surface 36 of the flange 23, particularly between the upper end 25 and the crest 27 is disposed generally transverse to the side-surface 24. Between the crest 27 and the lower end 26, the surface 37 .of the flange 23 tapers gradually forwardly and downwardly away from the side-surface 24 to provide an inclined camming surface.

A plurality of camming surfaces 38 and 39 may be milled or otherwise formed in the body portion 21 along the rear edge; the camming surface 38 being disposed generally in alignment with the surface 36 of the flange 23 and the camming surface 39 being disposed beneath the camming surface 38, generally to the rear and beneath the camming surface 37 of the flange 23. i

It is to be understood that the two camming surfaces 38 and 39 may be interconnected or formed as a single camming surface, as is shown at 47 in Figure 8.

The depression 33 between the hump 32 and the shoulder 34 provides a groove or recess adapted to support a loop of yarn 40, as is shown particularly in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9. The depression 33 extends transversely across the flange 23' so that as the flange 23 engages the loop 40, the loop (resting in the depression 33) is spread the full width' of the flange (i.e. from the crest 27 to the'side-surface 31) to provide a sidely-spread loop.

The operation of the vention is as follows:

A stitch-receiving needle 41, operating in conjunction with a stitch-transfer needle 42 is adapted to move in the direction of the arrow 43 (after the needle 42 has been elevated to the positionshownin Figuree), substantially knitting needle of the present inin alignment with the stitch-transfer needle, and is cammed against the side-surface 24 thereof by the cammingsurface 38, to bring the hook 44 behind the surface 36 of the flange 23, as is shown particularly in Figure 6 and in position A of Figure 7. Thereafter the stitch-transfer needle 42 moves in the direction of the arrow 45 so that the book 44 of the needle 41 moves into the loop 40 below the crest 27 of the flange 23, as is shown particularly in position B of Figure 7. Thereafter, the stitchreceiving needle 41 once again moves in the direction of the arrow 43 (its hook 44 being cammed by the inclined surface 37 onto the edge 29 of the flange 23) until the hook 44 extends beyond the loop 40. Then the stitchtransfer needle 42 moves down (opposite to the direction of the arrow 45) and the hook 44 of the stitch-receiving needle 41 slides along the edges 29 and 28 of the flanges 23 (past the crest 27), to engage the loop 40, as is shown particularly in position C of Figure 7. Thereafter the needle 42 is retracted still further, as is shown particularly in positions D and E of Figure 7, and the loop 40 is deposited on the needle 41.

The smooth, inclined portions of the flange 23 and the smoothly flowing edges thereof permit the trouble-free passage of the stitch-receiving needle (and particularly the hook 44 thereof) into the loop 40 and past the flange 23 whereby to permit an easy and trouble-free transfer of the yarn from the needle 42 to the needle 41.

The stitch-transfer needle of the present invention is also adapted to permit a transfer of the loop 40 with a 180 twist therein. This new and novel method of transferring the loop is shown particularly in Figures 8 to 11, inclusive.

In my new method of stitch-transfer which provides a twist in the loop 40, the hook 44 of the stitch-receiving needle 41 is not advanced into contact with the stitchtransfer needle 42 until the needle 42 has advanced (in the direction of the arrow 45) sufliciently to align the camming surface 39 (or the rear-most portion 46 of the enlarged camming surface 47) therewith. In this position of the needle 42, the loop 40 extends past the bodyportion 24 in a manner shown particularly in Figure 9. The needle 41 engages the needle 42 with both strands (40 -a and 40-b) of the loop 40 disposed on the same side of the needle 41. This is shown in solid lines in Figures 8 and 9.

The needle 41 advances no further in the direction of the arrow 43 than to bring its hook 44 near the rear surface 36 of the flange 23. Thereafter, when the needle 42 is retracted (in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow 45) the hook 44 of the needle 41 engages the loop 40 where it is spread open across the flange 23, with the point of the hook 44 passing into the loop 40 between the strand 40-12 and the surface 24 of the needle 42, but with the extension of both strands 40-a and 40-b disposed on the same side of the needle 41. This relative position is shown in dash-dot lines in Figures 8 and 9.

If one considers the two strands 40-a and 40-h as lying in a plane, it is seen that in my new stitch-transfer method the hook of the stitch-receiving needle enters the loop with the plane of the loop disposed between the hook of the stitch-transfer needle and the hook of the stitch-receiving needle.

As the needle 42 is retracted, the loop 40 is deposited on the hook 44 of the needle 41 with the strands 40-a and 40-h twisted 180, as is shown particularly in Figure 10.

In the stitch-transferring methods of the prior-art, the stitch-receiving needle was advanced into its stitch-receiving position above the yarn-loop (using the word above to mean between the loop and the hook of the stitchtransferring needle). By the method of the present invention, the stitch-receiving needle is advanced into its stitch-receiving position beneath the yarn-loop (the Word beneath being used to mean between the loop and the butt of the needle). Thus, by the stitch-transferring methods of the prior art, the hook of the stitch-transferring needle and, indeed, the point of said hook was passed entirely through the loop from above (i.e., with the point of the hook passing somewhat beyond the end of the loop), while in the method of the present invention, the stitch-receiving needle is not passed through the loop but to one side of it and to a point shortof the end of the loop, so that the loop is engaged by the stitch-receiving needle by having only the point of the hook enter the loop from beneath. In this manner, the loop is given a twist when it is fully deposited on the stitch-receiving needle.

Thus, a stitch-transfer is accomplished from one bank of needles to the other bank of needles, simultaneously with the formation of a 180 twist in the loop of yarn, as it is transferred from one bank of needles to the other.

The present application is a division of copending application Serial No. 181,035, filed August 23, 1950, on which Patent 2,780,082 was issued on February 5, 1957.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is the following:

1. In a stitch-transfer knitting-needle for use in automatic knitting machines, said knitting-needle having a hook and a body-portion, a flange completely integral with and projecting laterally from one side of the bodyportion of said knitting-needle at its front edge, said flange having a loop-retaining shoulder formed thereon, the edge of said flange tapering gradually downwardly and sidewardly away from the upper point of merger be tween the flange and the body-portion to a crest at said shoulder, and then tapering gradually downwardly and rearwardly from said crest to a lower point of merger betweeen the flange and the body-portion, the rearwardlyfacing surface of said flange between said shoulder and said lower merger-point providing a sidewardly and forwardly inclined camming-surface.

2. In a stitch-transfer knitting-needle for use in automatic knitting machines, said knitting-needle having a hook and a body-portion, a flange completely integral with and projecting laterally from one side of the bodyportion of said knitting-needle at its front edge, said flange having a loop-retaining shoulder formed thereon, the edge of said flange tapering gradually downwardly and sidewardly away from the upper point of merger between the flange and the body-portion to a crest at said shoulder, and then tapering gradually downwardly and rearwardly from said crest to a lower point of merger between the flange and the body-portion, the rearwardly-facing surface of said flange between said shoulder and said lower merger-point providing a sidewardly and forwardly inclined camming surface, and a camming-surface in the rear edge of the body-portion of said knitting needle.

3. In a stitch-transfer knitting-needle for use in automatic knitting machines, said knitting-needle having a hook and a body-portion, a flange completely integral with and projecting laterally from one side of the bodyportion of said knitting-needle at its front edge, said flange having a loop-retaining shoulder formed thereon, the edge of said flange tapering gradually downwardly and sidewardly away from the upper point of merger between the flange and the body-portion to a crest at said shoulder, and then tapering gradually downwardly and rearwardly from said crest to a lower point of merger between the flange and the body-portion, the rearwardlyfacing surface of said flange between said shoulder and said lower merger-point providing a sidewardly and forwar y inclined camming surface, and a camming-surface in the rear edge of the body-portion of said knitting needle beneath said flange.

4. In a stitch-transfer knitting-needle for use in automatic knitting machines, said knitting-needle having a hook and a body-portion, a flange completely integral with and projecting laterally fromone side of the bodyportion of said knitting-needle at its front edge, said flange having a loop-retaining shoulder formed thereon, the edge of said flange tapering gradually downwardly and sidewardly away from the upper point of merger between the flange and the body-portion to a crest at said shoulder, and then tapering gradually downwardly and rearwardly from said crest to a lower point of merger between the flange and the body-portion, the rearwardly-facing surface of said flange between said shoulder and said lower merger-point providing a sidewardly and forwardly inclined camming surface, and a camming-surface in the rear edge of the body-portion of said knitting needle behind said flange.

5. In a stitch-transfer knitting-needle for use in automatic knitting machines, said knitting-needle having a hook and a body-portion, a flange completely integral with and projecting laterally from one side of the bodyportion of said knitting-needle at its front edge, said flange having a loop-retaining shoulder formed thereon, the edge of said flange tapering gradually downwardly and sidewardly away from the upper point of merger between the flange and the body-portionto a crest at said shoulder, and then tapering gradually downwardly and rearwardly from said crest to a lower point of merger between the flange and the body-portion, the rearwardlyfacing surface of said flange between said shoulder and said lower merger-point providing a sidewardly and forwardly inclined camming surface, and a camming-surface in the rear edge of the body-portion of said knitting needle beneath and behind said flange.

6. In a stitch-transfer knitting-needle for use in automatic knitting machines, said knitting-needle having a hook and a body-portion, a flange completely integral r with and projecting laterally from one side of the bodyportion of said knitting-needle at its front edge, said flange having a loop-retaining shoulder formed thereon, the edge of said flange tapering gradually downwardly and sidewardly away from the upper point of mergerbetween the flange and the body-portion to a crest at said shoulder, and then tapering gradually downwardly and rearwardly from said crest to a lower point of merger between the flange and the body-portion, the rearwardlyfacing surface of said flange between said shoulder and said lower merger-point providing a sidewardly and forward ly inclined camming-surface, said crest and said shoulder being substantially aligned.

7. In a stitch-transfer knitting-needle for use in automatic knitting machines, said knitting-needle having a hook and a body-portion, a flange completely integral with and projecting laterally from one side of the bodyportion of said knitting-needle at its front edge, said flange having a loop-retaining shoulder formed thereon, the edge of said flange tapering gradually downwardly and sidewardly away from the upper point of'merger between the flange and the body-portion to a crest at said shoulder, and then tapering gradually downwardly and rearwardly from said crest to a lower point of merger between the flange and the body-portion, the rearwardly-facing surface of said flange between said shoulder and said lower merger-point providing a sidewardly and forwardly inclined camming-surface, and a bump on said flange above said shoulder to provide a yarn-retaining groove transversely of said needle at said crest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain May 7, 1940 

